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    Pathways to Teaching

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    How to Get Certified

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    Get the Guide

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    Frequently Asked Questions

Pathways to Teaching

Your path to teaching will partly depend on your background. Get an overview here, and download our free guide for more details!

Select the tab that fits you best.

If you’re a first-time teacher, your pathway will depend on your educational background.

If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree: You can earn your degree and teaching certificate at the same time. Some teaching programs even let you add a master’s degree for just one additional year!  

If you do have a bachelor’s degree, your basic choices are:
 

  • A master’s degree program: A standard master’s program offers extra time and practice before you lead your own classroom. This can be a great option if you have less experience with students!
  • A post-baccalaureate program: This option lets you earn your certification in as little as one year. Some post-baccalaureate programs are certification-only, while others let you earn your certification and college credit.

If you have previous teaching experience, you may be able to fast-track or save money on your Connecticut teacher certification! Here are some scenarios that may qualify:
 

  • You have at least two years of full-time teaching experience in your desired certification area. You may be able to get certified right away.
  • You have at least ten months of successful teaching experience in the past ten years. You may be able to waive your teaching program’s student teaching requirement. 
  • You have a certification in a Northeastern region state or territory. You may qualify for “enhanced reciprocity.” Basically, this means you can fast-track your teacher certification. 

You may qualify for other certification pathways or perks if any of these apply to you:
 

  • You have a bachelor’s degree that isn’t in education.
  • You’re a non-certified school employee. 
  • You’re a tradesperson. 
  • You’re bilingual. 
  • You’re a military service member, veteran or family member. 

Get Your Connecticut Teacher Certification

No matter which teaching pathway you choose, you’ll have to complete a few steps to get certified. Let’s take a look:
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    Decide what you want to teach

    When you enroll in a teaching program, you'll need to know the subject and grade level you want to teach. These will determine your certification endorsement area.

    Getting certified in a shortage area can provide more opportunities and even higher pay! 

    Explore Connecticut teacher endorsement areas.

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    Apply to teaching programs

    Make sure to look for programs that offer the endorsement subject area you want!

    If you don't have a bachelor's degree, many programs combine teacher certification with undergraduate coursework, so you can get certified and earn a degree at the same time.

    If you already have a bachelor's, you'll look for either master's degree + certification or certification-only programs. If your degree is in a subject other than the one you want to teach, you may also need to take a few additional classes before you begin. Check your program’s coursework requirements!

    Connecticut requires all teachers to eventually earn a master’s degree. That said, certification-only programs are typically faster than master’s programs—so you can choose to earn your teaching certificate first, and get your master’s later.

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    Enroll in and complete your teaching program

    Connecticut accepts degrees from a large number of colleges and universities, but you should confirm yours is regionally accredited.

    Explore Connecticut teaching programs. 

    TEACH Connecticut can help you save money on teaching program applications! We’ll reimburse up to $100 for any expenses required for you to apply to a teaching program (like application fees, transcript fees and more). Get $100 back. 

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    Pass required tests

    You’ll have to take a subject matter test, to show you know your stuff well enough to teach it.

    When do you take the test? It depends on your program. Different programs will have you take your exam at different times — often toward the end of your program, but not always.

    Our Testing Guide covers everything from how to register to study tips and resources.

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    Apply for your teacher certification

    Almost there! Your teaching program must formally recommend you for certification before you apply for your teacher certification from the state.  

    To apply, you'll create an online account with the Connecticut Educator Certification System to pay fees and submit paperwork.

Get the Guide

The cover of the TEACH Connecticut Certification Guide

The TEACH Connecticut Certification Guide has everything you need to start your journey: Get details about teaching pathways, endorsement areas and steps to certification, all in one place. 

It’s all free.

Get the Free Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Connecticut teacher certification!

Short answer: It depends.

Longer answer: Your total costs will vary depending on your teaching program and the tests required for your particular certification endorsement area. Here are some of the costs you can expect while you obtain your initial certification: 

  • Initial certification (1): $200
  • Content-specific exams (2): $64–$180

It depends on the type of program and where you are currently.

Here's what you can expect for most programs:

  • Bachelor’s degree & certification: About 4 years
  • Master’s degree & certification: 1–2 years
  • Certification-only: About 1 year

If you have a bachelor’s degree from outside of the U.S., your credentials must be evaluated by an approved foreign credential evaluation agency. This agency will determine the U.S. equivalents for your coursework and grades. You may also need to pass an English proficiency exam.

If you earned a teacher certification outside of the U.S., you’ll need to submit additional paperwork.

Learn more about certification for international educators.

There are two tiers of Connecticut teacher certification: initial and professional. You’ll earn an initial certification to start. Your initial certification is good for 10 years!

To advance through to a professional certification, you’ll need to gain years of experience and meet certain criteria, such as earning a master's degree. 

Connecticut has a history of competitive compensation for educators. 

The average starting salary for Connecticut teachers is $49,860. Overall teacher salaries (including teachers who have been on the job for a while) average over $86,000. That’s the sixth highest teacher salary in the nation! (3)

Learn more about teacher salaries and benefits. 

Wondering how to pay for your program? We can help! Here are a few of the resources TEACH Connecticut offers:

  • TEACH Connecticut scholarships for future educators
  • $100 back for any application-related costs
  • Information about financial resources with our Finances Guide
  • Explore scholarships and other opportunities with our Financial Aid Explorer.

What’s next

Interactive Feature

Connecticut Program Explorer

Ready to explore teaching programs? Find the right fit with our Program Explorer! Filter by degree, online options, tuition costs and more. You can even save favorites to revisit later.

Explore Programs

Career Coaching in Connecticut

Have questions about becoming a certified CT teacher? Talk to an expert. Attend a group info session or get 1-on-1 advice on what to teach and how to choose and apply to the right program. It's all free.

Read More

Connecticut Guides

Applying to teaching programs or jobs? TEACH Connecticut can help, with step-by-step advice and downloadable templates. From resumes to recommendations, test prep to financial aid, we'll tell you everything you need to know to apply with confidence.

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Sign Up for Free Resources

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Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide

To teach in Connecticut, you’ll need to complete a few steps. Read this page for more info or get our full PDF guide!

Get the GuideLearn About Endorsement Areas
The cover of the TEACH Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide

"Schools are more than just places where students learn how to read and write — they're communities. They're like second families to our students." — Dr. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education

References

  1. What are the fees for teacher certificates and coaching permits? Connecticut Bureau of Certification. https://portal.ct.gov/sdecertification/knowledge-base/articles/resources/general-information/certification-fees?language=en_US
  2. Connecticut Required Tests. Praxis, ETS. https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/connecticut-tests.html
  3. “Teacher Pay and Spending: How Does Your State Rank?” National Education Association.
    April 29, 2025. https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank